Trotsky’s views on Ethiopia have been part of this discussion. I am linking to
an article he wrote at the time and I have included what I think is the most
relevant passage.
ken h
https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1936/04/oslo.htm
1. Maxton and the others opine that the Italo-Ethiopian war is “a conflict
between two rival dictators.” To these politicians it appears that this fact
relieves the proletariat of the duty of making a choice between two dictators.
They thus define the character of the war by the political form of the state,
in the course of which they themselves regard this political form in a quite
superficial and purely descriptive manner, without taking into consideration
the social foundations of both “dictatorships.” A dictator can also play a very
progressive role in history; for example, Oliver Cromwell, Robespierre, etc. On
the other hand, right in the midst of the English democracy Lloyd George
exercised a highly reactionary dictatorship during the war. Should a dictator
place himself at the head of the next uprising of the Indian people in order to
smash the British yoke – would Maxton then refuse this dictator his support?
Yes or no? If not, why does he refuse his support to the Ethiopian “dictator”
who is attempting to cast off the Italian yoke?
If Mussolini triumphs, it means the reinforcement of fascism, the strengthening
of imperialism, and the discouragement of the colonial peoples in Africa and
elsewhere. The victory of the Negus, however, would mean a mighty blow not only
at Italian imperialism but at imperialism as a whole, and would lend a powerful
impulsion to the rebellious forces of the oppressed peoples. One must really be
completely blind not to see this.
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